Shelf management device

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a shelf management device that may be used to organize and secure merchandise on a retail shelf. The device can function as either a shelf divider or a fence and is reusable. The device may have a unitary structure preferably fabricated from plastic and requires no hardware or adhesive for installation. It has a unique arrangement of clips or anchors that engage the perforations formed in a shelf. The anchors may include rounded catches that fit into the perforations and engage the underside of the shelf to keep the device in place. The device can engage various shapes of perforations, including round, square, rectangular or diamond.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 62/118,319, filed Feb. 19, 2015, and U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/151,496, filed Apr. 23, 2015,in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §119(e).

FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for managing products onretail shelving. More specifically, it relates to a reusable shelfmanagement device having a unitary construction and including anchors tomount the device into perforations in the shelving.

BACKGROUND

Various types of shelf management systems exist for organizing andmanaging merchandise on retail shelving. Such systems include wire orplastic dividers and fences that attach to shelving in various ways.Shelf dividers are barriers installed transversely (i.e., front to back)across a shelf. Dividers may be used to separate merchandise on a shelfor keep products from falling off the end of the shelf. Shelf fences areusually longer than dividers and may be installed along the front edgeof the shelf to keep merchandise from falling off the shelf.

Some dividers and fences are reusable and others are for single-useapplications. Reusable dividers and fences generally connect to shelvesusing fasteners such as bolts or push rivets. The fasteners engage smallholes or perforations in the shelf. Single-use dividers and fences maybe attached to the shelf using an adhesive or double-sided tape. Onetype of single-use divider uses thin push tabs to engage the shelfperforations. All of these dividers and attachment methods havesignificant drawbacks. Most require keeping and transporting multipletools and fasteners to attach a single divider or fence to a shelf. Thepush tab method uses tabs that are flimsy and unable to securelymaintain the divider in place on the shelf. What are needed in theindustry are durable and reusable shelf dividers and fences that arecapable of being fastened securely to retail shelving without the needfor additional fasteners or adhesives. The present invention addressesthis need.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises a shelf management device for organizingproducts on a retail shelf. The shelf has a display surface andperforations formed therein that are designed to accept anchoringmembers from various types of shelf dividers and fences. The presentshelf management device may include a vertical partition and a basepanel extending perpendicular to the vertical partition. The base panelmay be secured to the shelf using a plurality of anchors locatedproximate the longitudinal centerline of the base panel, each anchorhaving a trunk integrally formed with the base panel to create a unitaryor monolithic structure and a catch or protuberance extending away fromsaid trunk. The trunk may have a rectangular transverse cross sectionand the catch may be attached to a planar first side of the trunk. Theplanar first side could be angled between zero and ninety degrees withrespect to the longitudinal centerline of the base panel or its bottomsurface. The trunk and its associated catch are receivable into theperforations formed in the display surface. When the base panel issecured to the shelf, the catch or protuberance will be below thedisplay surface and the catch will extend outwardly beyond the peripheryof the perforation in which it is installed. The shelf management devicemay be constructed of plastic.

The shelf management device could utilize an anchor having a planarfirst side and a planar second side opposite and generally parallel tosaid first side. When the shelf management device is secured in a shelfperforation, the planar first side is proximate a first side of theperforation and the planar second side is proximate a second side of theperforation that is opposite the first side of the perforation. Thedistance between the planar first side and planar second side is lessthan the shortest distance between the first and second sides of theperforation. The anchor may have a protuberance extending away from theplanar first side of the anchor, wherein the distance between an outersurface of the protuberance and the planar second side of the anchor isgreater than the previously referenced shortest distance between thefirst and second sides of the perforation. The protuberance may bespaced below the bottom surface by a distance that is greater than thedepth of the perforation in which the anchor is installed. An anchor forthe shelf management device may be located proximate the longitudinalcenterline of the bottom surface and, as previously noted, the anchormay be integrally formed with the base panel as a unitary structure. Theanchor may be proximate a first end of the base panel and a secondanchor may be proximate a second end of the base panel. The base panelon the shelf management device may include an upper surface that slopesdownwardly away from the vertical partition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of three shelf management devices arrangedas dividers and a fence on a shelf; one of the dividers is shown in anexploded view above the shelf.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of a shelf management device.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a shelf management device.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a shelf management device.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of an alternate embodiment of the shelfmanagement device in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an angled elevation view of a shelf management device takenalong line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is angled elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the shelfmanagement device in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of a shelf management device installed in ashelf perforation.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of an alternate embodiment of the shelfmanagement device in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the present invention in virtually anyappropriately detailed structure. The drawings constitute a part of thisspecification and include exemplary embodiments of the present inventionand illustrate various objects and features thereof.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description forconvenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, thewords “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “rightwardly,” “leftwardly,” “upper,”and “lower” will refer to the installed position of the item to whichthe reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will referto directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric centerof the item being described and designated parts thereof. Saidterminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivativesthereof and words of a similar import.

Referring to the figures, the present invention comprises a shelfmanagement device 5 that may be used to organize and secure merchandiseon a retail shelf 8. The shelf management device 5 comprises a unitarystructure having a horizontal base panel 9 attached to a verticalpartition 11. Attached to the underside of base panel 9 is a uniquearrangement of clips or anchors 12 that fit into perforations 15 formedin shelf 8 to secure the device 5 to the shelf. As shown in FIG. 1, theshelf management device 5 may be used as a shelf divider 16 wheninstalled transversely across the shelf 8 or as a fence 17 wheninstalled at the front or ends of shelf 8. The shelf management device 5preferably comprises a unitary or monolithic structure constructed ofplastic formed from either injection molding, or a vacuum or thermalforming process. It is foreseen that shelf management device 5 may alsobe formed as separate parts and assembled. It is possible that durableand lightweight materials other than plastic may also be used, such asrubber or aluminum. One reason plastic is preferable is because it canbe made translucent or colored depending on the needs of the end user.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the shelf management device 5 includes agenerally rectangular horizontal base panel 9 that rests on shelf 8 whenthe device 5 is installed. Base panel 9 has a flat bottom surface 22 anda sloped upper surface 25. The upper surface 25 slopes slightly downfrom a longitudinal interior corner 27 of base panel 9 to a longitudinaldistal edge 30 of base panel 9 such that base panel 9 is thicker nearcorner 27 than it is near edge 30. The corner 27 is located at the pointof attachment between vertical partition 11 and base panel 9. Corner 27may take and inverted curve or radiused form. If corner 27 is curved, itpreferably has a radius of less than one-eighth of an inch. The angle ofupper surface 25 is usually approximately three degrees from horizontalbut other angles may also be used. Base panel 9 is relatively thin atedge 30 so that when the shelf management device 5 is installed on shelf8, merchandise adjacent device 5 can slide over edge 30 and onto panel 9without catching on edge 30. Base panel 9 also has a posterior edge 32disposed opposite distal edge 30.

Attached to and extending perpendicularly upward from base panel 9 is agenerally rectangular vertical partition 11. Partition 11 is integrallyattached to base panel 9 at interior corner 27. It is foreseen thatpartition 11 may also be formed apart from base panel 9 and adhered orbonded to the panel. The partition 11 extends upwardly from corner 27and is a uniform height for the length of the partition 25. It isforeseen that partition 11 may also vary in height along its length.Partition 11 has two upper corners 45 that may be rounded if desired toprevent objects or clothing from snagging on the corners 45 and reducethe chance that a sharp corner 45 could cause injury. In the preferredembodiment, base panel 9 and partition 11 form an L-shaped structure butit is foreseen that partition 11 could be attached to other locations onbase panel 9. For example, partition 11 could attach to the middle ofpanel 9 to form an inverted T-shape. Furthermore, base panel 9 could benarrow and only slightly wider than the thickness of partition 11, inwhich case base panel 9 would extend away from partition 11 onlyslightly.

As shown in FIGS. 2-5, attached to and extending downwardly from thebottom surface 22 of base panel 9 is a plurality of anchors 12. Eachanchor 12 comprises a trunk 55 and a protuberance or catch 60 attachedto and extending away from a side of trunk 55. As best seen in FIGS. 3and 6, protuberance 60 is typically rounded or curved to allow anchor 12to slide in and out of a perforation 15. However, it is foreseen thatthe protuberance or catch 60 may also be squared or barbed to bettergrip the shelf 8. Trunk 55 preferably has a rectangular transverse crosssection, but other trunk shapes may be used such as cylindrical ortriangular.

If a rectangular trunk 55 is used, it has a generally planar first sideor face 61 and a parallel generally planar second side or face 62opposite the first side 61. The first side 61 and second side 62 arearranged generally perpendicular to bottom surface 22. The protuberance60 is located on the first side 61 between an upper end 63 of trunk 55and a distal end 64 of trunk 55. It is foreseen that the protuberance 60could be placed on any other side of trunk 55 that would engage an edgeof a perforation 15. Trunk 55 is taller than the depth of perforations15 on shelf 8. As shown in FIG. 7, all or a substantial portion (i.e., amajority or more than half) of protuberance 60 is spaced below upper end63 and bottom surface 22 by a distance that is equal to or greater thanthe depth of a perforation 15. Anchor 12, and specifically trunk 55, isintegrally attached to base panel 9 at upper end 63.

As shown in FIG. 8, the distance between the first side 61 and thesecond side 62 of trunk 55 is less than the shortest distance betweenopposite edges 80 of a perforation 15 in shelf 8, which is consideredthe width of perforation 15. The distance between the outer surface 66of protuberance 60 and the second side of 62 of trunk 55 is greater thanthe shortest distance between opposite edges 80 of the perforation 15.It is foreseen that in some situations the distance between the outersurface 66 and the second side of 62 may be equal to or slightly greaterthan the width of perforation 15 if anchor 12 is desired to be securedin the perforation 15 by friction fit only. Anchor 12 may be formedintegral to base panel 9 as a unitary structure or it may be formedapart from base panel 9 and adhered or bonded to the panel. In eithercase, the anchor 12 (i.e., trunk 55 and protuberance 60) is preferablyconstructed to have a solid rather than hollow structure.

The anchors 12 are typically arranged such that there is at least oneanchor 12 proximate each end of base panel 9 (FIG. 2). There may also bean anchor located near the middle of base panel 9 (FIG. 1). The exactnumber and position of the anchors 12 will depend on the configurationof the perforations 15 on shelf 8 and how securely the shelf managementdevice 5 needs to be secured to the shelf. As explained below, theprotuberance 60 helps secure the shelf management device 5 on shelf 8because the protuberance extends beyond the edge of the perforation 15after being inserted through the perforation 15. Each anchor 12 isattached to the bottom surface 22 of base panel 9 proximate thelongitudinal centerline 65 of surface 22.

Typically, each anchor 12 is angled or rotated about its longitudinalaxis which extends perpendicular to the panel 9 and passes through thecenter of the anchor 12. The anchor 12 is rotated with respect to distaledge 30 of base panel 9 such that first side 61 of trunk 55 is notparallel to edge 30. The angle of rotation may vary to match the shapeand orientation of the perforations 15 on shelf 8, however a 45 degreerotation is appropriate for most applications. This results in more thanhalf of the first side 61 and protuberance 60 being located on one sideof the longitudinal centerline 65 and more than half of the second side62 being located on the other side of the centerline 65. Each anchor 12on the shelf management device 5 need not be rotated at the same angle.For example, the anchors 12 located proximate each end of base panel 9may be mirrored about the transverse centerline of surface 22 (FIG. 4).

An alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 9.The alternate embodiment comprises a shelf management device withsimilar features to those described above except that the alternateembodiment includes anchors 112 instead of anchors 12. The anchors 112are attached to the bottom surface 22 of base panel 9 like anchors 12,but unlike anchors 12 they are arranged in pairs. Typically, a pair ofanchors 112 will be located where each single anchor 12 would be asdescribed above.

Each anchor 112 includes a trunk 120 and a protuberance or catch 125.The trunk 120 preferably comprises a rectangular transverse crosssection, but other shapes may also be used such as cylindrical ortriangular. If a rectangular trunk 120 is used, the protuberance 125 islocated on an outer side or face 130 of the trunk 120 similar to anchor12. As shown in FIG. 7, protuberance 125 is typically rounded to allowanchor 112 to slide in and out of a perforation 15. Like anchor 12, itis foreseen that the protuberance or catch 125 may also be squared orbarbed to better grip the shelf 8.

Each pair of anchors comprises two anchors 112 arranged in an opposingconfiguration such that the protuberances 125 on each anchor 112 faceaway from the other anchor 112. The opposing anchors 112 are spacedapart such that the distance between the outer sides 130 of the trunks120 equals the width of a perforation 15. This is typically one-quarterof an inch. The distance between the surfaces 135 of the protuberances125 on opposing anchors 112 will therefore be further apart than thewidth of the perforation 15. As explained below, this spacing helpssecure shelf management device 5 on shelf 8 because the protuberances125 extend beyond the edge of the perforation 15 after being installedin the perforation 15. Like anchors 12, each pair of anchors 12 isintegrally attached to the bottom surface 22 of base panel 9 proximatethe longitudinal centerline 65 of the surface 22. Anchors 112 may alsobe rotated similar to anchors 12 as described above.

The shelf management device 5 is secured to shelf 8 by engaging theperforations 15 in shelf 8. Shelf 8 typically comprises a displaysurface 75 supported by brackets (not shown). The display surface 75 istypically a sheet of metal only a couple of millimeters thick.Perforations 15 are formed in the display surface 75 and are usuallyclustered in groups or bands near the front, middle and rear of shelf 8.Perforations 15 come in many different shapes and sizes, but they aremost commonly circular or square (or diamond when angled).

To install shelf management device 5 on shelf 8, the device 5 ispositioned at the desired location on the shelf and each anchor 12 ispositioned above a perforation 15 as shown in FIG. 1. The anchors 12 arethen pushed into the perforations 15. When an anchor 12 is inserted intoa perforation 15, it displaces or compresses as the protuberances 60 onthe anchor 12 is forced inward toward the center of the perforation 15due to the protuberance 60 moving over the edge 80 of the perforation15. The protuberance 60 is curved to help it slide over edge 80 whilethe protuberance 60 is being forced inward. The edge 80 of perforation15 also deforms slightly when protuberance 60 is sliding over the edge.The slight displacement of anchor 12 combined with the slightdeformation of edge 80 allows protuberance 60 to fit through perforation15. It is foreseen that, instead of a round shape, a tapered or angledprotuberance 60 could also be utilized to help it slide over edge 80. Asthe anchor 12 is pushed further into the perforation 15, the anchor willdecompress as the protuberance 60 finishes moving over the edge 80 ofthe perforation 15.

When an anchor 12 is completely installed in a perforation 15, itsprotuberance 60 will be below the display surface 75 of shelf 8 and theanchor 12 will not be displaced or will be only slightly displaced tofrictionally engage the edge 80 of the perforation 15. Because theprotuberance 60 extends past the edge 80 of the perforations 15, theanchor 12 is retained in its respective perforation 15 resulting inanchor 12 securing the shelf management device 5 to shelf 8. Anchors 12may be located on shelf management device 5 such that when the device 5is installed on shelf 8, the device 5 may be under tension. The tensionwould be longitudinal in nature and run the length of the device 5between anchors. The tension would be the result of anchors 12 beinglocated slightly closer together than the perforations 15 in which theyare inserted. If the distance between the anchors 12 is slightly lessthan the distance between their respective perforations 15, the anchors12 will grip the edges 80 of the perforations 15 is a way that placesshelf management device 5 under tension. The difference in distancesbetween anchors and perforations may be caused intentionally (e.g., iftension is desired for the shelf management device 5) or unintentionally(e.g., if the shelf 8 lacks uniformity in the spacing of itsperforations 15).

The alternate embodiment of the shelf management device is installed andused in the same fashion as the primary embodiment described above. Toinstall the alternate embodiment, the anchors 112 are pushed into theperforations 15. As the anchors 112 are inserted into perforations 15,they displace or flex toward their respective paired anchor 112. Thisflexing is due to the protuberance 125 on each anchor 112 being forcedinward toward the center of the perforation 15 as the protuberance 125moves over the edge 80 of the perforation 15. The displacement of theanchor 112 may be due to the trunk 120 flexing or base panel 9 near theanchor flexing or a combination of both. As the anchors 112 are pushedfurther into the perforation 15, they will begin to straighten as theirrespective protuberances 125 finish moving over the edge 80 of theperforation 15.

When a pair of anchors 112 is completely installed in a perforation 15,their protuberances 125 will be below the display surface 75 of shelf 8and the anchors 112 will not be flexed or will be only slightly flexedto frictionally engage the edge 80 of the perforation 15. For squareperforations 15, each pair of anchors 112 can be arranged on panel 9 toeither engage opposing sides of the square (FIG. 9) or opposing cornersof the square.

The anchors 12 and 112 can be pulled out of the perforations 15 so thatthe shelf management device 5 can be removed and reused. Theprotuberances 60 and 125 are preferably shaped such that the anchors canslide out of the perforation 15 similar to the way in which they areinserted. The size and shape of the protuberances 60 and 125 and thestiffness of trunks 55 and 120 will dictate how much force is requiredto install and remove the shelf management device 5. If protuberances 60with squared or barbed edges are used, a user may need to reach belowthe shelf 8 and manipulate the anchors 12 or 112 to unlatch theprotuberances 60 and release the shelf management device 5.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present inventionhave been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited tothe specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:
 1. A shelf managementdevice for organizing products on a retail shelf having a displaysurface and perforations formed therein comprising: a verticalpartition; and a base panel extending perpendicular to said verticalpartition, said base panel securable to the shelf using a plurality ofanchors, each of said anchors having a trunk fixedly attached to saidbase panel and a catch extending away from said trunk, said trunk havinga rectangular transverse cross section and said catch attached to aplanar first side of said trunk, said planar first side of said trunkangled between zero and ninety degrees with respect to a longitudinalcenterline of said base panel, said trunk and said catch receivable in aperforation formed in the display surface, said catch being locatedbelow the display surface when said base panel is secured to the shelf.2. The shelf management device as in claim 1 wherein said catch extendsbeyond a periphery of said perforation when said base panel is securedto the shelf.
 3. The shelf management device as in claim 2 wherein saidtrunk is integrally formed with said base panel as a unitary structure.4. The shelf management device as in claim 3 wherein said catch isrounded.
 5. The shelf management device as in claim 4 wherein saidplurality of anchors is located proximate said longitudinal centerlineof said base panel.
 6. The shelf management device as in claim 5 whereinsaid shelf management device is constructed of plastic.
 7. The shelfmanagement device as in claim 6 wherein said vertical partition isattached to an edge of said base panel to form an L-shaped structure. 8.A shelf management device for use on a retail shelf having perforationsformed therein comprising: a base panel having a bottom surface; avertical partition extending upwardly from said base panel; and ananchor fixedly attached to said bottom surface of said base panel, saidanchor adapted to secure said shelf management device in a perforationformed in the shelf, said anchor having a planar first side and a planarsecond side opposite and generally parallel to said first side, whereinsaid planar first side is proximate a first side of said perforation andsaid planar second side is proximate a second side of said perforationthat is opposite said first side of said perforation when said shelfmanagement device is secured in said perforation, wherein the distancebetween said planar first side and said planar second side is less thanthe shortest distance between said first and second sides of saidperforation, said anchor having a protuberance extending away from saidplanar first side, wherein the distance between an outer surface of saidprotuberance and said planar second side is greater than said shortestdistance between said first and second sides of said perforation.
 9. Theshelf management device as in claim 8 wherein said protuberance isspaced below said bottom surface by a distance that is greater than thedepth of said perforation.
 10. The shelf management device as in claim 9wherein said anchor is located proximate a longitudinal centerline ofsaid bottom surface.
 11. The shelf management device as in claim 10wherein said anchor is integrally formed with said base panel as aunitary structure.
 12. The shelf management device as in claim 11wherein said anchor is proximate a first end of said base panel.
 13. Theshelf management device as in claim 12 further comprising a secondanchor attached to said bottom surface of said base panel proximate asecond end of said base panel.
 14. The shelf management device as inclaim 13 wherein said shelf management device is constructed of plastic.15. The shelf management device as in claim 14 wherein said verticalpartition is attached to an edge of said base panel to form an L-shapedstructure.
 16. A shelf management device for use on a retail shelfhaving generally square or generally circular perforations formedtherein comprising: a vertical partition; a horizontal base panel havinga bottom surface and an upper surface, said upper surface slopingdownwardly away from said vertical partition; and an anchor integrallyformed with said base panel as a unitary structure, said anchor adaptedto secure said shelf management device to the shelf, said anchorcomprising a trunk and a protuberance extending away from said trunk,said trunk having a rectangular transverse cross section and saidprotuberance attached to a planar first side of said trunk, said planarfirst side of said trunk angled between zero and ninety degrees withrespect to a longitudinal centerline of said bottom surface, said trunkand said protuberance receivable in a perforation formed in said shelf,said protuberance being located below said perforation and extendingbeyond a periphery of said perforation when said shelf management deviceis secured to the shelf.
 17. The shelf management device as in claim 16wherein said anchor is proximate a first end of said base panel.
 18. Theshelf management device as in claim 17 further comprising a secondanchor attached to said bottom surface of said base panel proximate asecond end of said base panel.
 19. The shelf management device as inclaim 18 wherein said shelf management device is constructed of plastic.20. The shelf management device as in claim 19 wherein said verticalpartition is attached to an edge of said base panel to form an L-shapedstructure.